The entrepreneur and vice president of the Sbarro Health Research Organization, Giancarlo Arra, has recently been appointed to the Board of Directors of Sons and Daughters of Italy, the largest foundation that represents Italian Americans in the United States. An unexpected appointment, which Arra lives as an opportunity to strengthen the relations between Italy and the USA, creating a scientific, philanthropic and entrepreneurial bridge, with particular attention to the young people of South Italy. In this interview we retrace with him the value of this investiture, his commitment together with Antonio Giordano and the role of the new generations in renewing the image of our country in the eyes of the Italian American community.
What was your first impression when you heard about the appointment in the Board of the Sons and Daughters of Italy?
It was a surprise for me. Being chosen among many entrepreneurs, to many people working between Italy and the United States, is a great satisfaction. An unexpected appointment, really.
What reality is the Sons and Daughters of Italy today in the United States?
It is a foundation that represents all Italian Americans in the United States: We are talking about an organization representing 26 million Italian Americans. Entering is not only a personal recognition, but a commitment: contribute to the growth of our community, promote Italian excellence and enhance new generations. That is why I thank the director of the foundation.
The appointment came for his commitment to research as vice president of the Sbarro Health Research Organization.
Exactly, SHRO is an organization that finances scientific research and, together with Professor Giordano, gives the possibility to many researchers — Italian and non-American — to work in a competitive environment: counts over 60 patents and three drugs.
What contribution does Sons and Daughters of Italy make?
The main contribution is to help relations between Italy and the United States. Not only in the scientific field, but also in the philanthropic and entrepreneurial one, to create a bridge especially for the young people of the South. My role will be to create connections between the two countries in various areas. In the Mezzogiorno in particular there is a huge potential, from creativity to culture, from ideas to skills. Now I feel the burden and duty to show that the Sbarro Healt Research Organization is replicable in the South, investing resources and feelings and creating new tools for talent.
His commitment and that of Antonio Giordano have always been aimed especially in South Italy. What can Sons of Italy give for the South?
Yes, we have the common commitment to voice the South. We want to make it clear that there is a fort of extraordinary talents, but they must be able to make themselves known also in a competitive and meritocratic environment like the American one.
The foundation can give a huge potential support. I have been working for years between Naples, Philadelphia and other international scientific capitals and I can testify that American vision is based on a clear principle: to create a territory to invest in. Italy is stronger when the Mezzogiorno grows. And the opportunities America has given me through SHRO show something: when you create the right conditions, the results arrive.
And what can the Mezzogiorno give to the United States?
The South must not only receive: it can export ideas, innovative models, creativity and a cultural force that Americans deeply appreciate. I can testify that abroad interest in our territory is growing exponentially. My vision is that the Mezzogiorno can become an innovation platform, a hub capable of connecting Europe with North America. Our young people are a huge added value. I invest on them and I am convinced that they will contribute to the success of this goal
What is the need to make Italy better known to Italian Americans today?
Many Italian Americans continue to see Italy as a country of forty years ago, when it is extremely competitive today. My role will be to help the new generations become known for what they are building.
In this sense, organizations such as SHRO and figures like you show that Italy produces excellence that is also recognized in the United States.
The idea is to give voice to what we have done with the Barro, but extending it to internationalization in many other areas: philanthropic, entrepreneurial and not only. This is the concept.
Can this bridge between Italy and the USA also serve to bring back talent, after a training experience in America?
Absolutely. Many of our researchers, with the creation of Sbarro Italia, have been able to make a working experience in the United States and then return to Italy, being able to continue the path started in America. They avoided that shock that often proves when you return without a support. We tried to bring our American model to Italy.
On the professional and human level what is the greatest teaching that Italians must take from the USA?
America can teach meritocracy, which unfortunately we do not fully have in Italy. And it can offer huge cultural and entrepreneurial opportunities. American training is still probably the best in the world today.
And what is the main feature that Americans can learn from Italians?
We Italians have an important inner strength. We do not have the same structures and the same “guided path” that exists in the United States, and this gives us a great inventiveness, which is what really distinguishes us.
He has defined the appointment in the Board of Sons of Italy a “point of departure”. What do you mean?
Now that I was nominated, it is time to build a solid reality for Italians and Americans. We have to create a matching that is useful on both sides of the bridge. Because it is true that many Italians want to go to the United States, but it is equally true that Italy has a huge tourist and cultural attraction. You have to do a job that works for those who want to work abroad, but also for the Italian territory.
So this perspective also concerns Americans looking at our country?
Absolutely. We must bring benefits not only to people, but to the territories. It must be a perfect dout des. We have to work for this.
L’articolo From the landing to the Sons of Italy: the vision of Giancarlo Arra for a stronger Italy in America proviene da IlNewyorkese.
